Charlotte AD shares latest on Week 1 game at Tennessee

With official announcements of conference-only schedules for the Big Ten and Pac-12 this fall, football fans everywhere are wondering about the status of their teams’ out-of-conference games.

Tennessee is scheduled to host the Charlotte 49ers in Week 1 (Sept. 5). On Sunday, Charlotte AD Mike Hill appeared on ESPN Radio, telling Peter Burns that he talked with UT’s administration after the Big Ten’s recent decision and the plan remains for the Vols and 49ers to play the season-opener as scheduled.

While that sounds encouraging, things have a way of changing quickly on the matters of scheduling. Alabama AD Greg Byrne was asked for comment Thursday after a report of the Pac-12 moving to a conference-only schedule. The Crimson Tide were scheduled to play USC. On Thursday, Byrne said, “Our current plan is to play the game.” On Friday, the Pac-12 officially announced a conference-only schedule, canceling the Alabama-USC game.

The 14 SEC athletic directors will reportedly meet Monday in Birmingham to discuss the 2020 fall sports schedule.

On @ESPNRadio with us, @CharlotteFTBL AD @rmikehill tells us that he has talked to @Vol_Football officials even after the Big 10’s decision of conference only games and that the plan is to still play their opener as scheduled.

— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 12, 2020